Derrick man dies of a crush injury following a 65-foot fall with a collapsing oil drilling rig in Oklahoma.
Authors
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Source
Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 98OK008, 1998 Sep; :1-4
Abstract
In February 1998, a 32-year-old derrick man died after he fell 65 feet when the oil-drilling rig he was working on collapsed and fell to the ground. The 6-man drilling crew had taken the last pieces of drill pipe and drill collars out of the hole when the drilling rig collapsed. The derrick man was standing on the derrick board 65 feet above ground and was wearing a safety belt. Evidence suggests that the shifting of drill collars, improper anchoring of guy lines and a failed weld on the drilling rig leg may have contributed to the collapse of the rig. When the rig collapsed, the derrick man fell an estimated 65 feet to the ground and the rig fell on him. The derrick man died immediately and three co-workers were treated for injuries. FACE investigators concluded that, to prevent similar occurrences, employers should: 1. ensure that all structural welding on a rig meets the American Petroleum Institute Guidelines API 54-92, Section 8. 2.1, and that all welding is regularly inspected and properly maintained. 2. ensure that the crew erects a wind gust line. 3. ensure that an emergency escape device is installed on the drilling rig. 4. develop, implement, and enforce a written comprehensive safety program.
Keywords
Region-6; Accident-analysis; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Work-operations; Work-analysis; Work-areas; Work-performance; Work-practices; Safety-education; Safety-equipment; Safety-measures; Safety-monitoring; Protective-measures; Oil-industry
Document Type
Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
NTIS Accession No.
PB2010-115401
Identifying No.
FACE-98OK008; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-613938
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Performing Organization
Oklahoma State Department of Health
